TTUTA prepares for legal battle against TSC

THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has retained attorney Anand Ramlogan to take legal action against the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) for their handling of the situation at the Arima Senior Comprehensive School. TTUTA President Trevor Oliver said the union had provided Ramlogan with information “detailing what is perceived to be flagrant bias in the handling of the issue”. He listed the areas of contention as faulty evaluation practices, and perceived victimisation on the part of the principal which the Commission chose to ignore while relentlessly pursuing disciplinary action against teachers at the school. TTUTA intends to have Permanent Secretary Angella Jack and other officials of the Ministry testify in the matter and wants critical reports prepared by Ministry officials presented as evidence.

The nine suspended teachers have begun to appear before the TSC tribunal, represented by a number of lawyers. Oliver said TTUTA’s General Council met two weeks ago and mandated the Executive to find alternatives to solving the situation, as other measures had failed. He said a lot of information had been unearthed which pointed to the principal victimising the teachers and accused the TSC of relentlessly pursuing the teachers. Ramlogan said he could not comment on the matter but legal action would hopefully be taken by early next week. He described the situation as a “crisis which is crying out for intervention” and said he hoped the resolution could be resolved without resorting to litigation.